2008 Presidents Award Citations
Presented at Alumni/ae Council Weekend 2008

Derek Chang ’85 and Katherine Ray Chang ’85

Together, you have done an outstanding job as the “dynamic duo” co-chairs of The 1781 Society for the past three years. As a result, leadership support for Exeter’s Annual Giving Fund has flourished under your watch, creating an important foundation for the ongoing success of our school.

Your recent service to Exeter is but the latest in a long-standing engagement, for you have served Exeter in numerous ways for more than a decade. You have helped your class plan and celebrate reunions and raise meaningful collective gifts. You have helped prospective students explore the opportunity of an Exeter education, and helped Exonians create communities far from our New Hampshire campus. In 2005, soon after welcoming your first daughter, Nina, into the world, you accepted the task of co-chairing The 1781 Committee, a group of 60 volunteers dedicated to raising leadership gifts to the Annual Giving Fund from non-reunion alumni/ae. Through your personal investment in both the high-level goals of the institution and the important details of working with individuals, you and the committee have achieved extraordinary results. During the fiscal year 2007-08, non-reunion alumni/ae giving reached an all-time high of $4 million. Meanwhile, the Chang household welcomed a new daughter, Freddie. Derek and Katie, for your willingness to add Exeter to your long list of responsibilities, and for the dedicated professionalism with which you have carried them out, it is our honor to present to you a 2008 President’s Award.

Edward K. Mills II ’51

While assuming multiple volunteer roles at one time—class agent, class president and reunion fundraiser—you have led the great Class of 1951 to the pinnacle of donor participation and other heights in recent years.

A few years ago, when the Annual Giving Fund office suggested a participation goal for your class, you declined to undertake anything less than 100 percent. Then, you went about working your magic with skillful diplomacy, good humor and persistence. You got to know your classmates on an individual level, staying in touch regularly by phone, by mail and in person. As a result, the Class of 1951 achieved 100 percent participation in the Annual Giving Fund in 2006-07—up from 74 percent the year before. Not only were you the first class agent ever to do so, you repeated the feat in 2007-08. During your tenure as a class officer, the Class of 1951 has also set an attendance record for a 55th reunion, made a record 55th reunion gift, and had a lasting impact on campus through establishing a scholarship fund and a faculty professional development fund and through funding the outdoor classroom behind Phelps Science Center. These successes set a high bar for all volunteers, but they also demonstrate what is possible with dedication, persistence, and genuine connections with classmates. In your case, we must also mention humility. Although it has been noted that your devotion to Exeter and sense of duty to your volunteer responsibilities only grows with each year of service, it has also been noted that you are quick to deflect praise and recognize others instead. Ed, the buck stops here. In honor of your truly inspiring example and success, we are pleased to present you with a 2008 President’s Award.

Hubert “Hugh” Scheffy ’58

Fortunately for us, you are a gentleman who never says “no” to Exeter. Your long and varied service to the Academy, undertaken with estimable style and grace, most recently culminated in a highly successful 50th reunion that was a milestone occasion for your class.

Since the 1980s, your Exeter roles have included volunteering as an admissions representative and serving as a General Alumni/ae Association director and a member of its awards committee. You also have provided superb leadership to the Class of 1958, planning reunions and serving as class agent, vice president and class president. While accomplishing much in each of these roles, you have never failed to make a lasting impression with your enthusiasm and warm and inclusive ways. Most recently, you assembled and led a diverse group of classmates in planning every detail of your 50th reunion, from a series of fascinating symposia to a lobster dinner to the class gift. Together, you attracted the second highest attendance at a 50th reunion in Exeter history. More important, you helped many classmates forge new connections to each other and to Exeter. Among your most successful strategies for convening the class was collecting personal essays for the 50th reunion yearbook via a password-protected website where all submissions were posted for the class to read. Not only did classmates have an opportunity to learn about each other prior to reconnecting on campus, but many who would not otherwise have written were inspired to submit essays of their own. The resulting book is a memorable testament to the class community you have so effectively built. Hugh, in honor of your longstanding love for Exeter and your outstanding leadership in so many ways, we present you with a 2008 President’s Award.

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